I had a very similar experience. I needed a semi-ambulatory seat for the Eras tour when TM claimed all of the seats were "sold" during the ticket on-sale date. (While I know for a fact they had 3 more drops the week of the concert.) I also talked to many able-bodied Swifties who ended up with ADA seats when they didn't even request them - like the lady in this video. I can't even imagine being wheelchair-bound and being in this situation. I texted with Ticketmaster for weeks. They kept telling me to contact the stadium, and the stadium told me that only those individuals in wheelchairs could get their tickets swapped and only on a first-come, first-served bases. I offered to show them a note from my doctor confirming my disability as well as my BMV handicap pass. They laughed and said they didn't have time to look at that. Meanwhile, TM sent me around in circles, pretty much giving off an attitude of "we don't care." They routed me to a "specialty team" and asked for 3-5 business days to determine a solution. At that point, the show was in a matter of days. I told them I did not have 3-5 business days. The show was on a Saturday and after several messages, they finally told me Friday (after much begging on my part) that there was nothing they could do. I got to the stadium right at opening (4.30pm) and went straight to Guest Services. The two ladies there rolled their eyes and said I wasn't disabled and they weren't going to give me a semi-ambulatory seat. (Funny how they were certain that I, a complete stranger, was definitely "not disabled.") They also said that they could only help those in wheelchairs and told me this was a rule from "TAYLOR SWIFT herself," which I knew wasn't true. By the time my friend and I got to our ticketed seats, I was nauseous and felt like I was going to pass out. I knew I'd never make it down the stairs to use the bathroom or get food, not to mention down and up a few times over the course of a 5.5 hour show!! I saw a sign saying if someone had an issue at the stadium, text a number, so I sent a text to the number saying I needed help. I said I was struggling ambulating to our seats and no one in Guest Services cared. What was I supposed to do? I paid a ton and traveled through 2 states to get to this show and I wasn't going to let a few grumpy employees (or TM) ruin my night. Whoever I talked to over text quickly got a supervisor involved and said the supervisor would come speak to the ladies in Guest Services. The ladies were still extremely rude and condescending, but they called me back to the kiosk. One of them took me to a closed bar area that overlooked the stadium. It served my purpose but unfortunately wouldn't work for those in a wheelchair. I sat on a barstool and strained my neck trying to see over the large ledge that separated the bar from a high jump down. I know the ledge was there to keep people safe, but I'm not even that short and still could hardly see the show without leaning forward for the entire concert. My body was trashed for the next couple days, but at least I didn't fall down 20 steep stairs, I guess. Still appalled at TM, pretty shocked at Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh). Currently in talks with an attorney because none of this was ADA appropriate in the least bit. This MUST change for everyone with any type of disability in need of accessible seating. To think this is legal in 2023 just blows my mind, and to literally see it occur before my eyes just breaks my heart. I have followed Taylor Swift since her first album and I can assuredly say that Taylor Swift would never stand for something like this. It's really unfortunate that the whole stadium of 80,000 people had a wonderful sense of friendship and camaraderie while the corporate groups like TM and the stadium couldn't get over themselves. Regarding determining who is disabled or not based on whether or not they are in a wheelchair, whether or not they "look" disabled... [copy and pasted] Americans with Disabilities Act Title III Regulations Part 36 Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Public Accommodations and Commercial Facilities 36.301 Eligibility criteria. (a) General. A public accommodation shall not impose or apply eligibility criteria that screen out or tend to screen out an individual with a disability or any class of individuals with disabilities from fully and equally enjoying any goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations. 96% of people with chronic medical conditions live with an illness that is invisible. - University of Massachusetts (aka this MATTERS)
All these for having a time of their lives enjoy live music of their fav artist with a sense of community & it not just for seeing a human...it's the experience u cherish from it.
I had a very similar experience. I needed a semi-ambulatory seat for the Eras tour when TM claimed all of the seats were "sold" during the ticket on-sale date. (While I know for a fact they had 3 more drops the week of the concert.) I also talked to many able-bodied Swifties who ended up with ADA seats when they didn't even request them - like the lady in this video.
I can't even imagine being wheelchair-bound and being in this situation. I texted with Ticketmaster for weeks. They kept telling me to contact the stadium, and the stadium told me that only those individuals in wheelchairs could get their tickets swapped and only on a first-come, first-served bases. I offered to show them a note from my doctor confirming my disability as well as my BMV handicap pass. They laughed and said they didn't have time to look at that. Meanwhile, TM sent me around in circles, pretty much giving off an attitude of "we don't care." They routed me to a "specialty team" and asked for 3-5 business days to determine a solution. At that point, the show was in a matter of days. I told them I did not have 3-5 business days. The show was on a Saturday and after several messages, they finally told me Friday (after much begging on my part) that there was nothing they could do.
I got to the stadium right at opening (4.30pm) and went straight to Guest Services. The two ladies there rolled their eyes and said I wasn't disabled and they weren't going to give me a semi-ambulatory seat. (Funny how they were certain that I, a complete stranger, was definitely "not disabled.") They also said that they could only help those in wheelchairs and told me this was a rule from "TAYLOR SWIFT herself," which I knew wasn't true. By the time my friend and I got to our ticketed seats, I was nauseous and felt like I was going to pass out. I knew I'd never make it down the stairs to use the bathroom or get food, not to mention down and up a few times over the course of a 5.5 hour show!! I saw a sign saying if someone had an issue at the stadium, text a number, so I sent a text to the number saying I needed help. I said I was struggling ambulating to our seats and no one in Guest Services cared. What was I supposed to do? I paid a ton and traveled through 2 states to get to this show and I wasn't going to let a few grumpy employees (or TM) ruin my night.
Whoever I talked to over text quickly got a supervisor involved and said the supervisor would come speak to the ladies in Guest Services. The ladies were still extremely rude and condescending, but they called me back to the kiosk. One of them took me to a closed bar area that overlooked the stadium. It served my purpose but unfortunately wouldn't work for those in a wheelchair. I sat on a barstool and strained my neck trying to see over the large ledge that separated the bar from a high jump down. I know the ledge was there to keep people safe, but I'm not even that short and still could hardly see the show without leaning forward for the entire concert. My body was trashed for the next couple days, but at least I didn't fall down 20 steep stairs, I guess.
Still appalled at TM, pretty shocked at Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh). Currently in talks with an attorney because none of this was ADA appropriate in the least bit. This MUST change for everyone with any type of disability in need of accessible seating. To think this is legal in 2023 just blows my mind, and to literally see it occur before my eyes just breaks my heart.
I have followed Taylor Swift since her first album and I can assuredly say that Taylor Swift would never stand for something like this. It's really unfortunate that the whole stadium of 80,000 people had a wonderful sense of friendship and camaraderie while the corporate groups like TM and the stadium couldn't get over themselves.
Regarding determining who is disabled or not based on whether or not they are in a wheelchair, whether or not they "look" disabled...
[copy and pasted]
Americans with Disabilities Act Title III Regulations
Part 36 Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Public Accommodations and Commercial Facilities
36.301 Eligibility criteria.
(a) General. A public accommodation shall not impose or apply eligibility criteria that screen out or tend to screen out an individual with a disability or any class of individuals with disabilities from fully and equally enjoying any goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations.
96% of people with chronic medical conditions live with an illness that is invisible. - University of Massachusetts (aka this MATTERS)
Swift softly.
Can’t always get what you want
All these for a human that doesn't even know you exist.
All these for having a time of their lives enjoy live music of their fav artist with a sense of community & it not just for seeing a human...it's the experience u cherish from it.